Wichita eagle., 1887-08-24
A GREENHORN'S SHOT.

lueI6 Is ILLS Inference between tDe Hon
and the tiger in his native haunts: The tiger
will always fight; the lion viii often run
away. When a hunter has wounded tiger,
he can be dead sure that the beast is going to
make for him to secure revenge. When he
has wounded lion, he can't be sure that the
beast won't sneak off like a whipped dog. I
was in Cape Colony, Africa, and out on the
edges of the Boer district, twenty years ago,
when the lion had become alarmed at the evil
dences OF civilization, but was yet hesitating
to withdraw further north. Along the edges
of the KalahaIi desert, to the west Of Cron-
stadt Potchefstrom and Rustenburg, the
African lion once grew to his greatest size
and flourished at his best. He lived on the
fat of the land, the natives let him severely
alone, and there was 10 one to dispute that
he was monarch Of all he surveyed.
A party of eight Of US had gone out from
Rustenburg to the west, being well provided
with hor Ses, wagons, tents, provisions and
servants, and after a journey of three days
we campo on the edge Of stream in beau
tiful grove. That night l heard wild lion
roar for the drst time, and it was by no
means sweet music to my ears. 4 male lion
and his IN tte discovered our camp about mid
night, al Tor half an hour they seemed de-
termined tC get hold Of some of DIR 1--we stock.
But for cur camp fires and the volleys we
fired in the direction Of the unwelcome in
truders, we should certainly have lost one of
the oxen, for the lions advanced within fifty
feet of the animals before they could be
frightened or 1t filled us with enthusiasm
to find that we had got into tie Lon country,
and we were up and doing at early hour
next morning. A mile to the south of us was
virgin forest-dark, tangled anu dangerous.
Between that and the desert was a strip Of
bad land about half a mile wide. There were
a few punches of plants and b snes, many
rocks, and the ground was spIiuiled with
bunch gras. With the telescope we could
see animals Of the antelope species feeding on
this strip; but while 1 was using the glass
they suddenly became alarmed and ran away,
going out of sight TO the south.
In the forest was the place to hook for lions
by day, o., at least, it was natur.i to believe
that they would retire TO its coyei' Curing the
hours when wild beasts sleep. u he north
of us the bad lands" continue IN out Of
sight, but the forest was more opau, being, in
fact, a succession of groves. We had two or
three natives with US Of much exerience in
lion hunting, and they gave us no encourage-
ment to go out until toward shutdown. One
of the men had followed the stream back into
the forest for half mile, and there found q
large pool, at which it was evident mat many
animals came to drink. Nothing worthy Of
a shot would come there by daylight. al
most every wild beast or amin | stakes its
thirst at night, and only at night. 1t does
not seem to be matter of choice with them,
but law of nature The spoor or trail of
the two lions which had paid Us Il midnight
visit led to the south between the forest and
desert, and as a heavy dew was failing when
they went away the trail could be followed at
q gallop. Two Of our hunters rode to the
north TO try and get shot at some nartbeests
seen with the glass, another went up to look
around the pool and the remainder decided
not to move at all before afternoon. de-
cided for ride to the south, am left camp
with heavy breechloading caroline across
my saddle. 1t wasn't to be depended on for
long shot, but 1t would hit t. Kill, and il
carried bali large enough to Kill an ele-
plant.
soon found the bad lands so bed that
had to let my horse pick his way at a walk.
kept pretty close to the edge of the forest,
knowing [ stood better chance of sighting
something, and I was full mile from camp
when my horse suddenly halted, shifted the
air in a suspicious manner, and stopped in his
tracks. From his trembling l knew that he
was badly frightened, and l rose IN my STIR
rups to look about for the cause. For a time
could see no living object but after while
my eyes lighted on tawny mass on the
sands at the roots of large bush. | had q
field glass with me, and l no sooner brought
it to bear than I made out two lions They
were about forty rods away. and while the
male lay on his back with his fee; in the air,
as you have sometimes seen a dog do, the
female was stretched out on her side. Both
had their heads from me, and Were evidently
asleep.
had had no experience in lion hunting,
and did not know how to act. My horse
showed q strong disposition to bolt, and dis
mounted ana made him fast TO tie limb of a
fallen tree which was half buried in the
sands l expected he would break away and
make for camp in case of a scriinmage, but
he was Of little use to me on such bad ground.
When ! had finished with the horse i saw
that my carbine was in order, pulled my re-
volver around within handy reach, and
walked forward to get a shot at the still
sleeping lions. There was nothing brave in
this l was simply greenhoru, and didn't
know better than to take the chances. knew
/ was a good shot, and | knew / had nerve,
and felt that could best the pair no matter
what course they took. 1t was very sultry
morning and the shade of the bushes was so
grateful that the lions had fallen into deep
sleep And why should they have felt any
fears? In all that region the hon was king.
His roar sent every other beast 10 cover, and
his growl was menaco TO be ho.>ied and re-
spected ! walked up to within thirty feet of
the pair, and still they did not hear me nor
change position. l could not get such shot
as hunter desires, but was bent on having
one. The male was nearest to me- He was
| curled up 50 that he resembled great ball Of
hair, and drew bead on the center Of the
mass, knowing that must hit him and that
the big bullet would give him bad hurt
Now, what followed the shot filled me with
establishment and wonder. Quicker than a
flash the lion was on his feet, AMI q frightful
roar from hiS throat blended with the report
of the gun There was snarl from the
loness, as she bounded into the air, and then,
without seeming to have seen me, or TO have
ascertained what had happened, the lion ran
down the strip of open ground, while his mate
broke for the woods. That he was hard hit
could tell by his gait That she was as rat
tied as a rabbit was easy to see by the way
she dragged her tail as she ran / had ex-
| pected fight and was disappointed The
| uale bounded over the broken ground for
| about eighty rods, and then went to cover In
q bush, and after the female rushed into the
wood gave her no further attention While
realized that wounded lion was danger
Gus foe, the cowsrdly conduct Of this fellow
in slinking away as be had done emboldened